The Labor enquirer., 1887-04-02
THE WATER JOB.
A Full History Of tho Facts IN
Relation to Denyer's
Water Supply.
How the Arlstocratic Loafers Have
Succeeded In Gobbling up the
City's Property.


was incorporated by special charter Of
the Eedslature Of the then territory Of
Kansas. with perpetual succession to
have and hold the exclusive right todi-
vert the water from the bed Of the South
Platte river at any point between Canon
and the mouth Of Cherry creek. and the
water Of Cherry Creek and direct the
same to the cities Of Auria, Denver and
Highland. in the county Of Arspahoe.
and TO have the exclusive privilege Of
controlling the same for mechanical, ag-
ricultural, mining and city purposes.
The name Of the company was
changed TO the Platte Water company
by the Legislature Of the territory of
Colorado, January 10. 1867.
The citv Of Denver made a contract
with the Platte Water company dated
the twenty-first day of MAY. 1875. to
lease for seven years the canal and franz
chises Of the company at $4,000 year,
and in the same contract agreed TO pay
$4,000 year for FIVE years with inter
est. in consideration of which payment
the company agreed to sell and convey
TO the city said canal with all its rights,
franchises and appurtenances of every
kind whatsoever.
The city paid for the ditch the stipu-
lated price and the stockholders Of the
company transferred all their stock to II
bnt for some reason unexplained some
Of the then officers of the city govern
ment thought best to have the company "
kept alive and for that purpose to have
one share ofstock transferred to eight Of
the city officials, which was accordingly
done and the Platte Water company has
continued to hold the title to the canal
and franchises VIII ich it contracted 10
convey to the city and which has been
paid for.
The stock of the company is divided
into 5000 shares; on the first day Of
June 1882 it was held as follows:
Denver, 1892 shares,
r. Morns, share.
| J.C. Stsllcup. share,
William Bliss, share,
J.T. Smith, share.
X. Y. Force, share,
L. l.. Fox, share, !
w. w. Mcclellan, share,
-. Whipple, share.
At the present time stock Of the COM
pany is held by its officers as follows :
Joe Bates, President, share.
J.C. Stallcup, Vice President, share,
J. I. Smith, Secretary. share, d.
w. NJ. Bliss, Director, l share,
c. Clark. Director. share,
X. Y. Force, Director, share,
J. +, Younker. Director. ] share,
Michael Ward, Director, share. i
1t will be seen that only three of the
corporators are at present officers of the
city government, and these will go out OF
Office after next Tuesday.
There is also, an English corporation,
"The English High Line Ditch COM
pany." which takes water out of the
same river. 1t has lawsuit on with
the Platte Ditch company. If it wins it
then he city is out and injured. The
list of stockholders of the High Line
company is not viewable but peoplegen
srally suspect that some of the stock
holders in the city ditch are also inter.
ested in that of the English. If they are
it might be TO their interest that the city
lose its suit. They might make a plum
by it.
But in any event, the city has bought
that ditch and should legally own it
which it don't NOW.
The fellows who hold the lone share
apiece" and who are the officers and d.
rectors, who collect and disburse the
money, who begin and dismiss suits
must be deposed and the city itsell
must take charge of its own property
If Shove and the labor tick ct is elected
this thing will be done.
Isn't it time for the people to rebuke
such an outrageous farce as this water
scheme is?
The city paid for the ditch. 1t be
longs to the city. Let itbe turned ovel
then at once. and let the people them
selves run and control their own prop
erty.